The Golden State Warriors will enter the new NBA season looking to get back on track after missing the postseason a year ago. Star guard Klay Thompson is gone, signing with the Dallas Mavericks in free agency, but Golden State is determined to stay competitive.
They brought in some depth pieces to help negate the loss of Thompson and still have some solid players on the roster. Star guard Steph Curry heads the snake, with forward Draymond Green now as his running mate.
But the Warriors also have some young talent that they believe they can build around. One of those players is forward Jonathan Kuminga, who has shown his worth to the team since being drafted.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 29: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Stephen Curry #30, Draymond Green #23 and Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors react against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 29, 2024 in New York City. The Warriors defeated the Knicks 110-99. Golden State is not prepared to give Kuminga a max extension just yet.
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Kuminga is entering the final year of his rookie deal before he enters restricted free agency and has been looking for a new contract. He reportedly has wanted a max extension from Golden State but so far, nothing has come to fruition.
And now, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Golden State isn’t prepared to give Kuminga a max extension. With this, his future with the Warriors is now up in the air.
“The Warriors aren’t currently prepared to give Kuminga a max extension (like the five-year, $224-million deal Franz Wagner got from the Orlando Magic that will start at 25 percent of the cap) or anything that stretches too close to that $44.8 million annual salary, league sources said. There’s credible reason for Kuminga to believe he can play himself into that ballpark with another leap. The talent has flashed for long stretches. The upside remains immense. But Kuminga’s relatively limited track record and protection of restricted free agency gives the Warriors leverage and reasons for patience.”
Golden State is likely hesitant to give Kuminga a max extension in light of what happened with former guard Jordan Poole. Poole was rewarded with a big contract right after the team won the NBA Finals two years ago but never lived up to it.
The Warriors then had to attach draft capital to offload his deal to another team. The front office likely has no interest in allowing that to happen again, especially with the new CBA now in place that heavily restricts roster building.
Kuminga also could be used as a trade chip for Golden State as they try to bring more star power to town. An extension could hurt those plans, as he is only scheduled to make $7.6 million this coming season.
While he has been a good player for the Warriors, Golden State is taking a more cautious and patient approach with this. It’s a smart move by the organization and one that could see them potentially land a star player in the future.
More news: Warriors Become ‘Team To Watch’ Following Steph Curry Extension, Per ESPN
